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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (June 17, 2010)
The INDEPENDENT, June 17, 2010 Vernonia school board okays budget The Vernonia School District Board meeting on June 10 started off with a budget hear- ing where Superintendent Ken Cox explained that a few changes were made to the budget approved by the budget committee because state rev- enue projections were reduced. The reduction totals $301,000 for Vernonia, which was bal- anced by taking $151,000 from the Capital Reserve fund, cut- ting staff days from 185 to 180, and student days from 171 to 170. Cuts in the number of days could save between $90,000 and $105,000. The numbers will be looked at closely, as the year progresses, to keep costs under control. The board unanimously ap- proved the budget with the above changes. Grade School Principal Aaron Miller showed the board a DVD put together by students about the Positive Behavior Support program. In new school updates, Pro- ject Manager Steve Effros re- ported that a NEPA (environ- mental) consultant has been chosen to meet with FEMA, and that agreements have been signed with the Oregon and U.S. Departments of Ener- gy for the biomass boiler pro- posal that uses grant funds. After an executive session, held to review and evaluate the performance of an officer or employee, the board stated that Cox has requested the dis- trict buy back 10 days of his un- used vacation (rather than five). That would come to about $1,700. Board members Cari Levenseller, Kim Wallace and Jim Krahn volunteered, and were approved to draft contract amendments on Cox’s vacation days. Board member Ernie Smith asked the board to consider en- trance and exit cameras for the school building next year, in light of a recent student disap- pearance at Skyline School in Portland. He also wants a re- view of the procedure for atten- dance phone calls, so grade school parents are called about absences before the parents of older children. Cox agreed to determine the cost of cameras and to discuss the phone call changes with staff. The board also approved the Naming Recognition recom- mendation, which outlines what new schools donors could have named for them, based on amount donated and starting at the $2,500 level. The next regular board meeting will be held July 8, starting at 6:00 p.m., at the Dis- trict office. Six Vernonia students com- peted in the Columbia County Spelling Bee, on May 27, at the Northwest Regional Education Service District Center in St. Helens. Two students per school dis- trict per grade level are allowed to participate. Vernonia stu- dents Anesto Torres and Kait- lyn Eyrrick went to the bee for the Kindergarten–Grade 5 lev- el, while Dylan Taylor and Rowan Scott participated from the middle school, and the high school was represented by Souvanny Miller and Preston Roach. The same students rep- resented Vernonia last year, said Grade School Principal Aaron Miller, and, “All were pretty excited to go this year since three of them placed in 2009.” When the words were all said and spelled, Miller and Taylor had third place certifi- cates for their respective levels while Eyrrick finished with a second place certificate. The other Vernonia spellers did well in their respective competitions without placing in the top three positions. Eyrrick’s effort makes her the runner-up and, if anything prevents the first place winner from going to the State Spelling Bee, she would go to represent Columbia County. The State Spelling Bee is held at the State Fair each year with the first place spellers from each county competing. Columbia County Rider is offering “Summer Fun, Student Bus Passes” for students be- tween the ages of six and 19 to be used between June 15 and September 7. Passes are $30 and can be purchased on the buses with exact change. Stu- dents must show valid picture identification when purchasing and when using the pass. Stu- dents under age nine must be accompanied by an adult when using the bus. The pass allows rides on all fixed and flex routes of Colum- bia County Rider. Get a bus pass Six spell at County Spelling Bee for summer fun Many scholarships earned at VHS The following 2010 Vernonia High School graduates re- ceived scholarships as listed: Chance to Become Scholar- ship ($5,000); Calie Johnston. Ford Family Foundation ($1,000 minimum); Timothy Brown. Gene Weller Memorial ($500); Bonnie Birkmaier. Hancock Forest Manage- ment ($500); Calie Johnston. Holce Logging ($2,000); Kathryn Stevens, Sarah Dupree. ($1,200); Chelsea Pat- ton, Katie Wilson. ($1,000); Dy- lan Vaughn, Bonnie Birkmaier, Kaitlyn Carr, Christopher Bam- burg, Brandon Gilbertson. Ida Loyd Walrod Memorial ($1,000); Adrienne East. Kaiser Permanente ($2,000); Dylan Vaughn. Karen Pitt-Kilgore Memorial ($500); Timothy Brown. Kris Duane Crowston Memorial ($750); Timothy Brown, Bonnie Birkmaier. Mike Busch Memorial ($500); Dylan Vaughn. Oregon State Univ. Respon- See scholarships, page 21 Make a Splash– Read! at Library Children aged 1 to 13 are in- vited to Make a Splash – Read! at the Vernonia Public Library’s 2010 Summer Library Program starting June 22. There will be a variety of programs, give-a-ways, and contests. Register at the Li- brary and pick up a list of events. Children of all abilities are welcome. Page 11 Chalk Talk Chalk Talk is a column of information about Vernonia schools. This column was provided by Superintendent Ken Cox. Another school year has faded into the sunset, but in doing so represents a great deal of learning and achievement for our students. I had the opportunity of shaking the hands of 52 graduates from Vernonia High School on Saturday, June 5, and 40 eighth graders who became freshmen on June 9. My congratulations go to each of these students and their parents for helping them achieve these milestones in their lives. Life and learning continue in Vernonia, in spite of the mods. When I first came to Vernonia I picked up on a phrase that rep- resented an attitude among students. This wasn’t pervasive, but I was surprised how often I heard it referred to, “What do you ex- pect, I’m from Vernonia,” often used almost as a put down. While I don’t think that attitude is completely gone from our schools, I believe we have some evidence that it is fading. Case in point, it was pointed out at the Senior dessert that 85% of this year’s grad- uating class are going on to some form of training next year, ei- ther college, trade school, or military service. In addition, over $57,000 in scholarships have been awarded to the Vernonia High School Class of 2010! These are just a cou- ple of indicators that our students are proud of who they are and what they can become. They have an understanding of what will best help them in their future and plans on how to get there. We are trying to do the same at the district level with regards to our new schools. We have a vision of what we need and want, a plan on how to get there, and we are executing that plan day by day. We have begun the process for selecting a general contrac- tor for building the new schools and have some good companies competing for that opportunity. Their proposals will be due in ear- ly July and will include options on how we can build the new schools within our very tight budget. We have also hired a firm to conduct the environmental assessment necessary to complete our buy-out application to FEMA this summer. These – and progress on the philanthropic front – are examples of what is go- ing on behind the scenes all the time as we steadily march up the road to our new schools. Because of this steady progress there is no new or developing information that warrants a town hall meeting, so the one we were considering for June 22 has been postponed until late July or ear- ly August, when we will be able to give you a complete update on what is going on. In the meantime, please check out our website www.vernoniaschools.org. With the end of school and many meetings demanding my attention, I have not posted any online updates the last couple of weeks, but will begin a new series of updates this weekend. On a final note, I hope you find time to make some memories this summer with your children or grandchildren. They won’t nec- essarily remember or care what type of car you have, but they will remember an outing at the beach, a camping trip, or a hike when they got to spend time with you. We live in a beautiful corner of the world and I hope you take the time to enjoy it as a family. Creatures & Vernonia Florist PET SUPPLIES, GROOMING & U-WASH (503-429-PETS (7387) www.creaturespetshop.com Plants ~ Antiques ~ balloons ~ Handmade Crafts Stuffed Toys ~ Greeting Cards & More (503) 429-2000 www.vernoniaflorist.com OPEN Mon-Sat 10-6 736 Bridge St. Vernonia Family Owned & Operated Superior Customer Service